White  and  Color 
Washing  with  Na- 
tive Clays  from 
Macon  County,* 
Alabama  if 


BULLETIN  NO.  21,  1911 


Experiment  Station 

TUSKEGEE  NORMAL  and  INDUSTRIAL  INSTITUTE 
TUSKEGEE  INSTITUTE,  ALA. 

m 

White  and  Color  Washing  with 
Native  Clays  from  Macon 
County,  Alabama 


George  W.  Carver,  M.  S.  Agr. 


The  Tuskegee  Experiment  Station 

Board  of  Regents 


Mr.  Charles  Coleman  Thach,  President   ..Auburn,  Alabama 

Hon.  R.  F.  Kolb  Montgomery,  Alabama 

Mr.  W.  W.  Campbell  Tuskegee,  Alabama 

Mr.  Charles  W.  Hare  Tuskegee,  Alabama 

Mr.  A.  J.  Wilborn    Tuskegee,  Alabama 

Mr.  Booker  T.  Washington  Tuskegee  Institute,  Alabama 

Mr.  Warren  Logan  Tuskegee  Institute,  Alabama 

Station  Staff 

G.  W.  Carver,  M.  S.  Agr  Director 

O.  W.  Ferguson  In  Charge  of  Canning  Factory 

George  R.  Bridgeforth          . .  .Director  of  Agricultural  Department 

R.  A.  Clark  Assistant  to  Director  of  Agricultural  Department 

T.  N.  Cowen  Farm  Superintendent 

John  D.  Wray  Assistant  to  Farm  Superintendent 

Augustus  McGriff  Assistant  to  Farm  Superintendent 

R.  S.  Pompey  Dairy  Husbandry 

Matthew  Woods  Assistant  in  Dairy  Husbandry 

C.  W.  Greene  Truck  Garden 

A.  A.  Turner  Dairying 

Almancy  L.  Evans  Poultry  Raising 

R.  R.  Robinson  In  Charge  of  Swine  Herd 

H.  B.  Jordan  Care  and  Management  of  Horses  and  Mules 

M.  F.  Ballentine  

 Assistant  Care  and  Management  of  Horses  and  Mules 

T.  M.  Campbell  Demonstrative  and  Farmers'  Institute  Work 

*R.  E.  Malone  Fruit  Growing 

L.  J.  Watkins  Road  Building  and  Construction  Work 

George  B.  Thornton  Stenographer 

J.  H.  Bias  Veterinarian 

W.  A.  Tate.. United  States  Demonstration  Work  and  Jesup  Wagon 


*Part  of  Term 


BULLETIN  NO.  21 


^SEPTEMBER,  1911 


White  and  Color  Washing  with  Native  Clays 
from  Macon  County,  Alabama 

G.  W.  CARVER,  M.  S.  Agr.  Dir. 

Of  the  many  attractive  features  of  our  beautiful  county,  I 
think  there  is  possibly  none  that  elicit  such  universal  admiration 
and  praise  as  the  vast  deposits  of  multi-colored  clays,  ranging  from 
snow-white,  through  many  gradations,  to  the  richest  Sienna  and 
Indian  reds  on  the  one  hand,  and  from  the  deepest  yellow  ochre  to 
the  palest  cream  tintings  on  the  other. 

We  have  never  looked  upon  our  county  as  possessing  vast 
mineral  wealth;  nevertheless,  this  is  true,  in  her  rich  deposits  of 
clay. 

It  is  well  understood  that  brick  of  superior  quality  and  richness 
of  color  can  be  made.  Now  and  then  a  jug  factory  springs  up 
here  and  there,  makes  a  few  wagon-loads  of  jugs,  churns,  jars, 
crocks,  vases,  and  flower  pots,  sells  them  out  and  disappears  as 
mysteriously  as  it  came;  thus,  slowly  but  surely,  the  value  of  these 
splendid  clay  deposits  becomes  known. 

The  materials  for  the  manufacture  of  pressed  brick,  drain  pipe, 
pottery,  and  fine  kaolin  wares  are  here  in  abundance. 

WHITE  WASHES  AND  KALSOMINES 

One  of  the  most  unique  and  valuable  uses  to  which  they  can 
be  put  is  that  of  color-washing  (kalsomining)  of  the  interior  of 
dwelling  houses,  schoolhouses,  etc.  Almost  endless  combinations 
can  be  made;  they  are  bewitchingly  beautiful  and  attractive.  Below 
are  a  few  of  the  most  striking  and  pleasing  cambinations: 
PREPARATION  OF  THE  CLAY 

For  white  and  color  washing  there  are  only  two  classes  of 
clays  to  which  we  need  to  give  attention;  viz.:  very  sandy,  and 
those  practically  free  from  sand.  Of  the  latter  class  all  that  is  nec- 
essary in  its  preparation  is  to  thoroughly  dissolve  it  in  hot  or  cold 
water,  making  it  of  the  same  consistency  as  good  white-wash,  and 
apply  it  to  rough  unfinished  walls  in  the  same  manner. 


SANDY  CLAY 

The  sand  is  easily  removed  in  the  following  ways: 

(a)  Sift  the  pulverized  clay  through  a  fine  sieve  or  a  piece  of 
coarse  cloth. 

(b)  Stir  the  pulverized  clay  thoroughly  into  a  vessel  partly 
filled  with  water;  let  stand  two  minutes.  The  sand  and  gravel  will 
sink  to  the  bottom,  and  the  water,  with  its  suspended  clay  parti- 
cles, can  be  poured  off. 

(c)  Take  a  coarse  bag,  something  like  a  flour  sack;  put  half  a 
gallon  or  so  of  the  pulverized  clay  into  it;  dip  this  repeatedly  into  a 
vessel  of  water  until  the  clay  has  been  washed  out.  The  sand  in 
the  bag  may  be  thrown  away  and  a  fresh  batch  taken  and  treated 
in  the  same  way  until  a  sufficient  quantity  to  suit  your  purpose  has 
been  gotten  out. 

Dressed  lumber  and  hard-finished  plastering  do  not  take  the 
color  well.  All  such  surfaces  must  be  sized  and  prepared  exactly 
the  same  as  for  kalsomining.  On  any  surface  wh  ere  one  does  not 
want  it  to  rub  off,  it  may  be  fixed  by  the  following  methods: 

METHOD  I. 

For  every  gallon  of  color-wash,  stir  in  a  pint  of  glue  size  (glue 
that  has  been  dissolved  in  water  until  it  becomes  the  consistency  of 
mucilage) . 

METHOD  II. 

To  every  gallon  of  color-wash,  stir  in  a  pint  of  well-boiled 
starch  or  flour  paste,  being  sure  there  are  no  lumps  in  it. 

METHOD  III. 

For  every  gallon  of  color-wash,  stir  in  a  quart  of  thoroughly  boiled 
sweet  milk  from  which  all  the  cream  has  been  taken. 

METHOD  IV. 

Boil  a  pound  of  rice  in  two  gallons  of  water  until  a  smooth 
paste  is  formed;  strain  through  a  cloth,  and  use  the  water  the  same 
as  any  other  sizing. 

COMBINATIONS. 
No.  1. 
Ceiling:  Yellow  or  cream. 
Border:   Dark  red. 
Walls:  Pink. 

No.  2. 
Ceiling:  White. 

Border:    Yellow,  Pink,  or  green. 


Walls:  Yellow 
No.  3. 
Ceiling:  Blue. 

Border:   Yellow,  green,  or  pink. 
Walls:     White  or  grey. 
Note — The  blue  may  be  made  by  stirring  in  a  little  laundry  or 
Prussian  blue  into  the  white  clay  until  the  desired  shade  is  reached. 
The  green  may  be  made  by  stirring  the  blue  into  the  yellow. 

No.  4. 
Ceiling:  Pink. 
Border:  Yellow. 
Walls:     Dark  salmon  red. 

No.  5. 
Ceiling:  Rose  pink. 
Border:  White. 
Walls:     Light  blue. 

No.  6. 
Ceiling:  Purple. 
Border:    White  or  dark  red. 
Walls:     Deep  yellow,  cream,  or  white. 

No.  7. 

Ceiling:  White,  pink,  blue,  or  grey. 
Border:   Yellow  or  dark  red. 
Walls:  Green. 

No.  8. 

Ceiling:  Tinted  pink  or  cream. 
Border:   Yellow,  dark-red,  or  green. 
Walls:     Salmon  red. 
No.  9. 

Ceiling:  White,  pink,  blue,  or  cream. 

Border:  Chocolate. 

Walls:     White,  pink,  or  grey. 

No.  10. 
Ceiling:  Pink. 
Border:  Yellow. 
Walls:  Chocolate. 
The  above  are  only  a  few  of  the  almost  limitless  number  of 
pretty  combinations  that  will  suggest  themselves  to  the  artistic 
mind,  such  as  the  shading  and  blending  of  colors,  checkered,  lined, 
and  spotted  borders,  etc.,  etc. 

(a)  This  little  pamphlet  is  designed  primarily  to  aid  the  farm- 
er in  tidying  up  his  premises,  both  in  and  outside,  making  his  sur- 


roundings  more  healthful,  more  cheerful,  and  more  beautiful,  thus 
bringing  a  joy  and  a  comfort  into  his  home  that  he  has  not  known 
heretofore,  and  at  practically  no  expense. 

(b)  It  is  further  hoped  that  every  school-teacher  will  take 
pride  in  fitting  up  his  school  room  in  some  one  of  the  above  com- 
binations, and  will  teach  each  pupil  how  to  select  the  clay  and 
prepare  it. 

Any  of  the  above  colors  may  be  changed  by  adding  a  little  bit 
of  artificial  coloring  matter  to  them;  e.  g.,  green  may  be  had  in  any 
shade  by  adding  a  little  commercial  green  to  the  white  clay;  a  deep- 
er red  by  adding  a  little  commercial  red  to  the  red  clay,  etc. 

I  feel  safe  in  making  the  following  assertion:  That  anyone 
becoming  acquainted  with  the  use  of  these  clays  will  at  once  see 
their  great  value,  and  will  use  them  freely  and  refuse  to  use  any 
other  as  long  as  they  can  be  had. 

OUTSIDE  WORK 

Several  of  the  colors  are  suitable  for  outside  work;  the  white 
may  be  used  instead  of  whitewash  made  with  lime. 

The  red  colors,  when  simply  mixed  with  water  and  spread  on 
rough  surfaces,  stick  almost  like  paint  and  improve  the  looks  of  the 
building,  or  whatever  it  is  put  on. 

Several  years  ago  a  gentleman  took  some  red  clay,  beat  it  up 
with  a  mallet,  mixed  it  with  linseed  oil  and  painted  two  houses  with 
it  in  Notasulga.  It  looks  very  well  yet,  and  if  you  were  not  told  it 
was  clay  you  certainly  would  never  suspect  it. 

The  light-colored  clays  are  more  on  the  order  of  lime,  and 
do  not  stick  so  tenaciously. 

For  outside  work  do  not  stripe  and  border,  as  they  are  likely 
to  run  together  and  look  ugly  after  the  first  rain. 

GEORGE  W.  CARVER,  M.  S.  Agr. 
Director  Department  of  Research  and  Experiment  Station. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2013 


http://archive.org/details/whitecolorwashinOOcarv 


